The Indiana Pacers 2-1 were advanced in the NBA 2025 after defeating 116-107 to Oklahoma City Thunder In game 3, played Wednesday night at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The key to the triumph was the impressive performance of the Second Unit of Indiana, which surpassed the OKC bank for 49-18.
Bennedict Mathurin led all scorers with 27 points in just 22 minutes, hitting 9 of his 12 field shots. His performance places him among the best in history in the late bank, matching the brand of Jason Terry (2011) as the third biggest score in this instance.
The TJ McConnell base also made history by becoming the first player to register at least 10 points, 5 assists and 5 robberies coming out from the bank in a match of late, according to data from The Associated Press. His energy was key to change the pace of the encounter in the second quarter.
“TJ brought a tremendous competitive will. Mathurin was aggressive from the first moment. This is what we are as a team: everyone must be ready,” said coach Rick Carlisle after the game.
Indiana Pacers giant with Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton titular shipowner also shone with a complete line of 22 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 robberies and 1 block, highlighting the importance of the impulse that the bank brought.
On the side of the Thunder, the trio made up of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts), Jalen Williams (24) and Chet Holmgren (21) combined 70 points, but the team collapsed in the last minutes, scoring only 1 of 10 field shots in the last 5:25 of the game and being blocked five times in that section.
Game 4 of the NBA 2025 finals will be played this Friday, June 13 again in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will seek to put a victory of the championship.
